Alfred Ryan
Encyclopedia
Alfred James 'Bulla' Ryan (27 April 1904 – 10 July 1990) was an Australian sportsman. He represented South Australia
at both first-class cricket
and Australian rules football
. His cricket was played mostly in the Sheffield Shield and he spent his football career with South Adelaide
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL).
He represented an Australia XI, against the Marylebone Cricket Club at the Sydney Cricket Ground
in 1936. He scored 40 not out and took the wicket of Arthur Fagg
. A right-arm medium pace bowler, he had previously played against Marylebone with South Australia at Adelaide a year earlier and took career best figures of 4/13. His haul included English Test cricketer Joe Hardstaff
.
In 2008 Bulla was named as a player in the team of the 20th century for the Adelaide Cricket Club
.
He regularly represented South Australia at interstate football, appearing in the 1924 Hobart
and 1927 Melbourne
carnivals as a forward. In all he represented his state 24 times and kicked 73 goals.
Southern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
at both first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
and Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
. His cricket was played mostly in the Sheffield Shield and he spent his football career with South Adelaide
South Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL).
Cricket
Ryan, a right-hander, batted in the middle and lower order for South Australia. He was part of South Australia's 1935/36 Sheffield Shield winning campaign, captained by Don Bradman. That season, in a match against Queensland at Brisbane, Ryan made his highest first-class score of 144.He represented an Australia XI, against the Marylebone Cricket Club at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
in 1936. He scored 40 not out and took the wicket of Arthur Fagg
Arthur Fagg
Arthur Edward Fagg was an English cricketer, who played for Kent and England....
. A right-arm medium pace bowler, he had previously played against Marylebone with South Australia at Adelaide a year earlier and took career best figures of 4/13. His haul included English Test cricketer Joe Hardstaff
Joe Hardstaff junior
Joseph Hardstaff junior was an English cricketer, who played in twenty three Tests for England from 1935 to 1948...
.
In 2008 Bulla was named as a player in the team of the 20th century for the Adelaide Cricket Club
Adelaide Cricket Club
Adelaide Cricket Club or is a semi-professional cricket club in Adelaide, South Australia. It competes in the South Australian Grade Cricket League, which is administered by the South Australian Cricket Association...
.
Football
Ryan was one of five brothers who played at South Adelaide during the 1920s and 1930s. Debuting in 1922, he was used initially as a key forward and topped South Adelaide's goal-kicking every season from 1924 to 1927, with over 50 goals on each occasion. A South Adelaide 'Best and fairest' winner in 1924 and 1928, Ryan finished his career as a rover. He retired in 1931, having played 146 senior games for South Adelaide and was later named as right half forward flanker in their official 'Greatest Team'.He regularly represented South Australia at interstate football, appearing in the 1924 Hobart
1924 Hobart Carnival
The 1924 Hobart Carnival was the fifth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition...
and 1927 Melbourne
1927 Melbourne Carnival
The 1927 Melbourne Carnival was the sixth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition....
carnivals as a forward. In all he represented his state 24 times and kicked 73 goals.